ClearFlow provides PleuraFlow®, an active chest‑tube clearance system that continuously removes blood and clots from thoracic drainage catheters using a motor‑driven mechanism and real‑time pressure monitoring. The plug‑and‑play device integrates with standard chest‑tube sets and includes a mobile app for training and remote support, helping cardiac surgery programs reduce retained blood syndrome, postoperative atrial fibrillation, and ICU length of stay.
Funding
$7.6M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
After cardiac surgery, chest tubes frequently become clogged with blood, leading to retained blood syndrome, increased risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation, infections, and longer ICU stays. Maintaining chest‑tube patency during the critical first 24 hours is difficult with standard passive drainage methods.
Solution
ClearFlow offers PleuraFlow®, an active chest‑tube clearance (ATC) system that continuously removes blood and clots from thoracic drainage catheters. The device integrates a motor‑driven clearance mechanism with real‑time pressure monitoring to ensure unobstructed flow without manual manipulation. Clinical data show that adding ATC to an enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery (ERAS) protocol reduces retained blood syndrome by 41 %, postoperative atrial fibrillation by 17 %, and ICU length of stay by 30 % compared with standard care. The system is compatible with existing chest‑tube sets and can be incorporated into hospital ERAS pathways, improving patient outcomes and resource utilization. ClearFlow also provides a mobile clinical support app for training, protocol guidance, and remote troubleshooting.
Target Audience
Primary customers are cardiac surgery programs and cardiovascular intensive care units in hospitals that perform coronary artery bypass, valve, and other thoracic procedures.
Features
- Motor‑driven active clearance technology that continuously evacuates blood and clots from chest tubes
- Integrated pressure sensors and automated alerts to detect early signs of tube occlusion
- Plug‑and‑play design compatible with standard thoracic drainage sets
- Mobile ClearFlow Assistant app delivering on‑site training, protocol checklists, and real‑time support
- Clinical evidence from a 1,334‑patient study demonstrating reductions in retained blood syndrome, POAF, and ICU time
- Seamless integration with ERAS cardiac surgery protocols and hospital quality‑improvement programs